Ezekiel:20

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* And it came to pass in the seventh year , in the fifth month , the tenth day of the month , that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD , and sat before me . * And the word of the LORD came unto me , saying : * 'Son of man , speak unto the elders of Israel , and say unto them : Thus saith the Lord GOD : Are ye come to inquire of Me ? As I live , saith the Lord GOD , I will not be inquired of by you . * Wilt thou judge them , son of man , wilt thou judge them ? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers ; * and say unto them : Thus saith the Lord GOD : In the day when I chose Israel , and lifted up My hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob , and made Myself known unto them in the land of Egypt , when I lifted up My hand unto them , saying : I am the LORD your God ; * in that day I lifted up My hand unto them , to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had sought out for them , flowing with milk and honey , which is the beauty of all lands ; * and I said unto them : Cast ye away every man the detestable things of his eyes , and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt ; I am the LORD your God . * But they rebelled against Me , and would not hearken unto Me ; they did not every man cast away the detestable things of their eyes , neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt ; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them , to spend My anger upon them in the midst of the land of Egypt . * But I wrought for My name 's sake , that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations , among whom they were , in whose sight I made Myself known unto them , so as to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt . * So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt , and brought them into the wilderness . * And I gave them My statutes , and taught them Mine ordinances , which if a man do , he shall live by them . * Moreover also I gave them My sabbaths , to be a sign between Me and them , that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them . * But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness ; they walked not in My statutes , and they rejected Mine ordinances , which if a man do , he shall live by them , and My sabbaths they greatly profaned ; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness , to consume them . * But I wrought for My name 's sake , that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations , in whose sight I brought them out . * Yet also I lifted up My hand unto them in the wilderness , that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them , flowing with milk and honey , which is the beauty of all lands ; * because they rejected Mine ordinances , and walked not in My statutes , and profaned My sabbaths--for their heart went after their idols . * Nevertheless Mine eye spared them from destroying them , neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness . * And I said unto their children in the wilderness : Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers , neither observe their ordinances , nor defile yourselves with their idols ; * I am the LORD your God ; walk in My statutes , and keep Mine ordinances , and do them ; * and hallow My sabbaths , and they shall be a sign between Me and you , that ye may know that I am the LORD your God . * But the children rebelled against Me ; they walked not in My statutes , neither kept Mine ordinances to do them , which if a man do , he shall live by them ; they profaned My sabbaths ; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them , to spend My anger upon them in the wilderness . * Nevertheless I withdrew My hand , and wrought for My name 's sake , that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations , in whose sight I brought them forth . * I lifted up My hand unto them also in the wilderness , that I would scatter them among the nations , and disperse them through the countries ; * because they had not executed Mine ordinances , but had rejected My statutes , and had profaned My sabbaths , and their eyes were after their fathers ' idols . * Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good , and ordinances whereby they should not live ; * and I polluted them in their own gifts , in that they set apart all that openeth the womb , that I might destroy them , to the end that they might know that I am the LORD . * Therefore , son of man , speak unto the house of Israel , and say unto them : Thus saith the Lord GOD : In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed Me , in that they dealt treacherously with Me . * For when I had brought them into the land , which I lifted up My hand to give unto them , then they saw every high hill , and every thick tree , and they offered there their sacrifices , and there they presented the provocation of their offering , there also they made their sweet savour , and there they poured out their drink-offerings . * Then I said unto them : What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go ? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day . * Wherefore say unto the house of Israel : Thus saith the Lord GOD : When ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers , and go after their abominations , * and when , in offering your gifts , in making your sons to pass through the fire , ye pollute yourselves with all your idols , unto this day ; shall I then be inquired of by you , O house of Israel ? As I live , saith the Lord GOD , I will not be inquired of by you ; * and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all ; in that ye say : We will be as the nations , as the families of the countries , to serve wood and stone . * As I live , saith the Lord GOD , surely with a mighty hand , and with an outstretched arm , and with fury poured out , will I be king over you ; * and I will bring you out from the peoples , and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered , with a mighty hand , and with an outstretched arm , and with fury poured out ; * and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples , and there will I plead with you face to face . * Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt , so will I plead with you , saith the Lord GOD . * And I will cause you to pass under the rod , and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant ; * and I will purge out from among you the rebels , and them that transgress against Me ; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn , but they shall not enter into the land of Israel ; and ye shall know that I am the LORD . * As for you , O house of Israel , thus saith the Lord GOD : Go ye , serve every one his idols , even because ye will not hearken unto Me ; but My holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts , and with your idols . * For in My holy mountain , in the mountain of the height of Israel , saith the Lord GOD , there shall all the house of Israel , all of them , serve Me in the land ; there will I accept them , and there will I require your heave-offerings , and the first of your gifts , with all your holy things . * With your sweet savour will I accept you , when I bring you out from the peoples , and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered ; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations . * And ye shall know that I am the LORD , when I shall bring you into the land of Israel , into the country which I lifted up My hand to give unto your fathers . * And there shall ye remember your ways , and all your doings , wherein ye have polluted yourselves ; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed . * And ye shall know that I am the LORD , when I have wrought with you for My name 's sake , not according to your evil ways , nor according to your corrupt doings , O ye house of Israel , saith the Lord GOD .' * And the word of the LORD came unto me , saying : * 'Son of man , set thy face toward the South , and preach toward the South , and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South ; * and say to the forest of the South : Hear the word of the LORD : Thus saith the Lord GOD : Behold , I will kindle a fire in thee , and it shall devour every green tree in thee , and every dry tree , it shall not be quenched , even a flaming flame ; and all faces from the south to the north shall be seared thereby . * And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it ; it shall not be quenched .' * Then said I : 'Ah Lord GOD ! they say of me : Is he not a maker of parables ?'

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